--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm doing this for me. If I don't become…" description: "\"“I'm doing this for me. If I don't become as successful as you all think I would be or should be and you think it tarnishes my career, then that's your..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/michael-phelps-2388_success_i-m-doing-this-for-me-if-i-don-t-become_1674911.jpg" --- # I'm doing this for me. If I don't become as successful as… ![“I'm doing this for me. If I don't become as successful as you all think I would be or should be and you think it tarnishes my career, then that's your own opinion. I'm doing this because I want to come back and I enjoy being in the pool and I enjoy being in the sport of swimming.” quote by Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/michael-phelps-2388_success_i-m-doing-this-for-me-if-i-don-t-become_1674911.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/michael-phelps-2388_success_i-m-doing-this-for-me-if-i-don-t-become_1674911.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/michael-phelps-2388_success_i-m-doing-this-for-me-if-i-don-t-become_1674911.jpg) > ““I'm doing this for me. If I don't become as successful as you all think I would be or should be and you think it tarnishes my career, then that's your own opinion. I'm doing this because I want to come back and I enjoy being in the pool and I enjoy being in the sport of swimming.”” [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A swimmer asserts personal motivation over external expectations, emphasizing love for the sport. **In simple terms:** Swim for personal joy, not others’ opinions. Key Takeaway Prioritize intrinsic passion. Themes motivation self‑determination sports Mood determined reflective Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - training - competition - career decisions - public scrutiny Key Concepts identity autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What drives you beyond external validation? - How do you balance personal goals with public expectations? A Different Perspective External pressure can still affect performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [Anything I do, I do with 110 percent. Right now, my biggest goal is the 2016 Olympics. My main focus is that. But after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lochte/anything-i-do-i-do-with-110-percent-right-now-my-biggest-goal-is-the/) [Ryan Lochte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lochte/) > [I don't think I'm 'the guy' in the sport of swimming, but people want to label me as 'the guy.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caeleb-dressel/i-don-t-think-i-m-the-guy-in-the-sport-of-swimming-but-people-want-to/) [Caeleb Dressel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caeleb-dressel/) > [I want to continue the sport of swimming. I'm not going to give up until I think it's reached where I want it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-want-to-continue-the-sport-of-swimming-i-m-not-going-to-give-up/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [It's cool just because I've had this dream of changing the sport of swimming and it's finally happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/it-s-cool-just-because-i-ve-had-this-dream-of-changing-the-sport-of/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [“Work? Come on, Sage. Go buy a bikini and enjoy the pool while you’re hanging around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/work-come-on-sage-go-buy-a-bikini-and-enjoy-the-pool-while-you-re/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Swimming is not a sport. Swimming is a way to keep from drowning. That's just common sense!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/swimming-is-not-a-sport-swimming-is-a-way-to-keep-from-drowning-that/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [I enjoy the sport, I enjoy the challenge that it brings and it certainly does bring that for me and it's not an easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caeleb-dressel/i-enjoy-the-sport-i-enjoy-the-challenge-that-it-brings-and-it/) [Caeleb Dressel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caeleb-dressel/) > [I don't watch cricket very much, but of course I enjoy whenever I see the sport, especially live, because of the energy in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-fatehi/i-don-t-watch-cricket-very-much-but-of-course-i-enjoy-whenever-i-see/) [Nora Fatehi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-fatehi/) > [I enjoy wrestling. I enjoy the sport. I get to go against the world's best athletes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-burroughs/i-enjoy-wrestling-i-enjoy-the-sport-i-get-to-go-against-the-world-s/) [Jordan Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-burroughs/) > [I just play because I enjoy the sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-pulisic/i-just-play-because-i-enjoy-the-sport/) [Christian Pulisic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-pulisic/) > [I am getting to an age when I can only enjoy the last sport left. It is called hunting for your spectacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-grey-1st-viscount-grey-of-fallodon/i-am-getting-to-an-age-when-i-can-only-enjoy-the-last-sport-left-it/) [Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-grey-1st-viscount-grey-of-fallodon/) > [A lot of players are concerned about their ranking; I think you've got to just enjoy the sport and have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-tomic/a-lot-of-players-are-concerned-about-their-ranking-i-think-you-ve-got/) [Bernard Tomic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-tomic/) > [For me, it's just kind of a chase for self-improvement in and out of the water. That's why I do enjoy the sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caeleb-dressel/for-me-it-s-just-kind-of-a-chase-for-self-improvement-in-and-out-of/) [Caeleb Dressel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caeleb-dressel/) > [The only reason I started swimming was for water safety. Then, once I started falling in love with sports, I got more comfortable with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/the-only-reason-i-started-swimming-was-for-water-safety-then-once-i/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [The support I've received from my sponsors has enabled me to raise the bar in swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/the-support-i-ve-received-from-my-sponsors-has-enabled-me-to-raise/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) ## More by Michael Phelps > [The support I've received from my sponsors has enabled me to raise the bar in swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/the-support-i-ve-received-from-my-sponsors-has-enabled-me-to-raise/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I'm definitely ahead of the schedule where I thought I was going to be at. I'm really happy. I was excited to race and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-m-definitely-ahead-of-the-schedule-where-i-thought-i-was-going-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [You can't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/you-can-t-put-a-limit-on-anything-the-more-you-dream-the-farther-you/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I think with practice, you can being whatever you want to be, and with a goal you can go in any direction that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-think-with-practice-you-can-being-whatever-you-want-to-be-and-with/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I learned how fast you can go from being an international hero to being a reference in a joke on a late night talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-learned-how-fast-you-can-go-from-being-an-international-hero-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I'm the same kind of guy before all this happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-m-the-same-kind-of-guy-before-all-this-happened/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [The only reason I started swimming was for water safety. Then, once I started falling in love with sports, I got more comfortable with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/the-only-reason-i-started-swimming-was-for-water-safety-then-once-i/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I don't like to be second in anything. I was trying, I just wasn't going anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-don-t-like-to-be-second-in-anything-i-was-trying-i-just-wasn-t/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [Every day, there's always something to be worried about; you turn on the news and see something different every day, and it's terrible. Hopefully,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/every-day-there-s-always-something-to-be-worried-about-you-turn-on/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I want to test my maximum and see how much I can do. And I want to change the world of swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-want-to-test-my-maximum-and-see-how-much-i-can-do-and-i-want-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [You can't put a limit anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/you-can-t-put-a-limit-anything/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I haven't swam in any of the rivers outside of Baltimore. I try to keep it in the pool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-haven-t-swam-in-any-of-the-rivers-outside-of-baltimore-i-try-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [This is my 20th year in the sport. I've known swimming and that's it. I don't want to swim past age 30; if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/this-is-my-20th-year-in-the-sport-i-ve-known-swimming-and-that-s-it-i/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [Anything is possible as long as you want it, you work for it. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, the only person that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/anything-is-possible-as-long-as-you-want-it-you-work-for-it-doesn-t/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [Nothing is impossible. With so many people saying it couldn't be done, all it takes is an imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/nothing-is-impossible-with-so-many-people-saying-it-couldn-t-be-done/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) [Explore all 169 Michael Phelps quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) ## More Success quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [It's sort of the American way to go up and down the ladder, maybe several times in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/it-s-sort-of-the-american-way-to-go-up-and-down-the-ladder-maybe/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [“Success is for a man whose stories of sruggles and chalenges are inspirations to and up coming generation..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-sanaba-c/success-is-for-a-man-whose-stories-of-sruggles-and-chalenges-are/) Nelly sanaba .c > [If you hate yourself... The world will hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/if-you-hate-yourself-the-world-will-hate-you/) [Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/) > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-a-habit-unfortunately-so-is-losing/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [I don't want easy success. It's boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudeep/i-don-t-want-easy-success-it-s-boring/) [Sudeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudeep/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) [Browse all 41,540 Success quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I'm doing this for me. If I don't become as successful as you all think I would be or should be and you think it tarnishes my career, then that's your own opinion. 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